On 3 June1969, while operating with the Royal Australian Navy off Luzon, Evans was operating in company with the Australian aircraft carrier HMAS Melbourne. At flying stations, Melbourne signalled Evans,
which was to port of the carrier, to take up the rescue destroyer
position. The logical movement would be to make a turn to port and
describe a circle taking up station on the carrier's port quarter.
Inexplicably, instead of turning to port, Evans turned to starboard, cutting across Melbourne's
bows and was cut in half in the ensuing collision. Her bow section sank
instantly, taking 74 of her crew down with it. At the time of the
collision Evans's captain was asleep and the ship was under
command of a junior officer who was not qualified to stand watch,
having failed at his previous board.